The sixth species of the damselfly family Burmacoenagrionidae (Odonata) endemic to the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber
Abstract
Burmagrion azari sp. nov., sixth species of the small damselfly family Burmacoenagrionidae, is described and illustrated. This family is currently only recorded from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber and is possibly endemic to this isolated island of the Tethys Ocean at that time. The presence of slender, elongate legs with very long tarsi is a putative synapomorphy of the Burmacoenagrionidae, as present in Burmagrion and Burmacoenagrion. The type specimen of the new genus and species is dislocated together with several fragments of flies, suggesting that these fossils are possibly the result of a regurgitation by a small vertebrate passing aside the fresh resin. The female of Burmagrion azari sp. nov. was probably laying its eggs inside plant cuticles. Its ovipositor is described.